Dubuque Community School District AmeriCorps AgreementCopyrighted
September 18, 2017
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 4.
ITEM TITLE: Dubuque Community School District AmeriCorps
Agreement
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of an agreement
between Dubuque Community School District for
AmeriCorps services with the City of Dubuque AmeriCorps
Partners in Learning as required by the Corporation for
National and Community Service as a part of the grant
award for AmeriCorps Partners in Learning.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Agreement with City Manager Memo
Dubuque Community School District -MVM Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Agreement with DCSD Supporting Documentation
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
All -America City
1111'
2007 • 2012 • 2013 • 2017
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2017-2020 AmeriCorps Partners in Learning -Dubuque Community School
District Agreement
DATE: September 11, 2017
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware recommends City Council approval of an
agreement between Dubuque Community School District for AmeriCorps services with
the City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Partners in Learning. This agreement is required by
the Corporation for National and Community Service as a part of the grant award for
AmeriCorps Partners in Learning.
Thirty-eight AmeriCorps members serve in thirteen elementary schools within the
Dubuque Community School District. They will tutor Kindergarten through third graders
at least three times a week. This allows 800 economically disadvantaged students to
start the tutoring program with 600 economically disadvantaged students to complete it.
The short-term outcome proposed in the grant is for 540 of the 600 economically
disadvantaged students who complete our program to improve by 10 points as
measured by the FAST assessment. Twelve members will serve at Dubuque
Community School District summer reading program as well.
Data from the 2016-2017 academic year showed that the AmeriCorps program was a
huge success! Eight -eight percent of students attended school 90% of the time or
more; 89% of students improved from fall to spring. Strong attendance is so important
for students' success, and having AmeriCorps members as Academic Reading Tutors
for K -3rd grade struggling readers provides students extra academic support and
another safe, caring adult in their lives. We are making a difference in the lives of
Dubuque's children.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Marie Ware, Leisure Services Manager
2
THE CITY OF
DUiUi
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
kittil
All -America City
1 1 1 1 1.!
2007. 2012. 2013 • 2017
TO: Michael C Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Marie L Ware, Leisure Services Manager
SUBJECT: 2017-2020 AmenCorps Partners in Learning- Dubuque Community School
District Agreement
DATE: August 28, 2017
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to request signature on the attached agreement
between Dubuque Community School District (DSCD) for AmenCorps services with the
City of Dubuque AmenCorps Partners in Learning The agreement is required by the
Corporation for National and Community Service as a part of the grant award for
AmenCorps Partners in Learning
BACKGROUND
AmenCorps Partners in Learning and the Dubuque Community School District have had
a long-standing relationship Most recently, our newly awarded AmenCorps grant will
continue this relationship AmenCorps Partners in Learning Program has been
extremely successful in its 17 years of operation, ten of which have been under the
leadership of the City of Dubuque
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has established priority
areas of funding for their grants AmenCorps Partners in Learning fits nicely into CNCS
priority area of education CNCS emphasizes performance measures and being able to
measure progress They require evidence based interventions with evaluative data and
use of a logic model We provide evidence that the proposed intervention is effective
for the proposed population and community need A third -party evaluation was
completed and the evaluation provided excellent feedback on the Partners in Learning
Program
DISCUSSION
The City of Dubuque's Partners in Learning AmenCorps Program has been awarded a
grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service The grant is for the
period of August 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018 It will provide a grant of $238,569 The
1
source of match funding is a match from AmeriCorps sites and in-kind match for
administration and training. The DCSD contributes $45,000 match each year. The total
grant application is $516,154. This grant is funded through federal dollars and is year
one of a three-year grant cycle. The program is currently directed by Mary Bridget
Corken-Deutsch.
AmeriCorps members have become partners in the school they serve. AmeriCorps
Director Mary Bridget Corken-Deutsch worked with Shirley Horstman - Student Services
Director, Cindy Steffens — Director of Elementary Education and Tammy Duehr — Lead
Instructional Coach for the Dubuque Community School District to formulate a program
that continues to place AmeriCorps members in elementary schools at the
Kindergarten, 1st 2nd and 3rd grade level. The contact time for students will be 21,600
hours. The School District provides training to the AmeriCorps members that aligns with
the curriculum taught in the schools. By creating this focus, we have moved the needle
with our AmeriCorps program and members and will continue these efforts.
Thirty-eight AmeriCorps members serve in thirteen elementary schools within the
Dubuque Community School District. They will tutor Kindergarten through third graders
at least three times a week. This allows 800 economically disadvantaged students to
start the tutoring program with 600 economically disadvantaged students to complete it.
The short-term outcome proposed in the grant is for 540 of the 600 economically
disadvantaged students who complete our program to improve by 10 points as
measured by the FAST assessment. 12 members will serve at Dubuque Community
School District summer reading program as well.
Data from the 2016-2017 academic year showed that the AmeriCorps program was a
huge success! 88% of students attended school 90% of the time or more; 89% of
students improved from fall to spring. Strong attendance is so important for students'
success. And having AmeriCorps members as Academic Reading Tutors for K -3rd
grade struggling readers provides students extra academic support and another safe,
caring adult in their lives. We are making a difference in the lives of Dubuque's
children.
The agreement was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney, Maureen Quann.
RECOMMENDATION
I fully recommend authorizing by signature the attached agreement between Dubuque
Community School District (DSCD) for AmeriCorps services with the City of Dubuque
AmeriCorps Partners in Learning as the agreement is required by the Corporation for
National and Community Service as a part of the grant award for AmeriCorps Partners
in Learning.
Memo prepared by Mary Bridget Corken-Deutsch
attachment: 2017-2020 DCSD Agreement
2
AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF DUBUQUE
and
THE DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
for
AMERICORPS SERVICES
for
August 1, 2017 through August 1, 2020
This agreement, dated for reference purposes the 14th day of August, 2017, is
made and entered into by and between the City of Dubuque (City) and Dubuque
Community School District (School District).
Whereas, School District and City have a strong desire and commitment to
continue the services of AmeriCorps so that all youth will perform academically at grade
level and families and children will have access to safe and supportive learning
environments.
Whereas, it is necessary to define the roles of the parties in providing such services
to the elementary, middle and senior high schools.
Now, therefore, it is agreed by and between the parties as follows:
SECTION 1. ROLE OF AMERICORPS.
1.1 School District agrees to permit AmeriCorps Members assigned by City through
its AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program (PIL) to provide educational services to
students at Audubon, Bryant, Carver, Eisenhower, Fulton, Hoover, Irving, Kennedy,
Lincoln, Marshall, Prescott, Sageville and Table Mound Elementary Schools at a
schedule to be determined by the schools involved and in the manner to the satisfaction
of School District. The School District will have the right and authority in its discretion to
assign and supervise the work of every AmeriCorps Member, including the right to
remove any AmeriCorps Member for good cause, on such notice as the School District
deems necessary. Each AmeriCorps Member will be required to pass a background
check satisfactory to the School District before providing any services under this
Agreement.
1.2 AmeriCorps Members acting within the scope of their duties shall be City
employees.
1.3 The City, through its AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program and Program
Director will:
A. Recruit, interview and enroll Members and refer Members to the placement
sites, subject to results satisfactory to School District from FBI fingerprints, state
1
of Iowa and state of residence criminal background checks and national sex
offender check to be initiated and funded by PIL.
B. Instruct and train Members in program procedures, disaster training, conflict
management, basic academic tutoring skills, team building, and proper use of
program forms and procedures.
C. Provide basic orientation to placement site prior to placement of Members.
D. Periodically monitor Member activities at site to access and/or discuss
needs and development.
E. Provide Living Allowance Stipend and Education Awards to Members and
handle all fiscal responsibilities.
F. Conduct mid-term evaluations between Members and site supervisors.
G. Require an exit interview and Member portfolio of each Member at
completion of service.
H. Identify and provide contact information for its PIL Program Director
throughout the term of this Agreement.
Provide a written position description to AmeriCorps Program Director and
Members doing direct service with students.
J. Provide members with appropriate AmeriCorps branded gear.
1.4 The School District will:
A. Provide reasonable orientation, in-service instruction or special training of
Members in their placements.
B. Ensure members are engaging in direct service with youth. -
C. Provide reasonable supervision of Members on service assignments.
D. Take reasonable steps to protect the safety of Members.
E. Validate Members' time sheets in Iowa Grants when Members submit them.
F. Supply statistical data on service as requested.
G. Contact and inform Program Director of any problems involving a Member
or students ASAP after incident.
2
H. Investigate and report any accidents/and injuries involving Members.
I. Participate in mid-term evaluations of Members and Site Supervisors.
J. Pay compensation as provided below, to be administered by the City in the
payment of Living Allowance Stipends and Education Awards to Members.
K. Be aware of prohibited activities listed below and ensure that Members
placed at their service sites will not be required in the course of their placements
to engage in these activities.
L. Submit supervisor in-kind time sheets to PIL on a monthly basis.
M. Identify and provide contact information for a Site Supervisor at each of the
elementary school sites identified above throughout the term of this Agreement.
1.5 Prohibited Activities: While charging time to the AmeriCorps program accumulating
service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps
program or CNCS, staff and members may not engage in the following activities (see 45
CFR § 2520.65, § 2520.40, § 2520.45).
A. Attempting to influence legislation;
B. Organizing or engaging in protests, boycotts, or strikes;
C. Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing;
D. Impairing existing contracts for service or collective bargaining agreements;
E. Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to
influence the outcome of an election to any public office;
F. Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include
advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates,
proposed legislation, or elected officials;
G. Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing
instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or
worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or
worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction
or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization;
H. Providing a direct benefit to:
• A business organized for profit;
• A labor union;
• A partisan political organization;
3
• A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions
contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
related to engaging in political activities or substantial amount of
lobbying except that nothing in these provisions shall be construed
to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities
undertaken their own initiative; and
• An organization engaged in the religious activities described in
paragraph (g) of this section, unless Corporation assistance is not
used to support those religious activities;
Conducting a voter registration drive or using Corporation funds to conduct
a voter registration drive;
J. Providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such services;
K. Recruiting volunteers for prohibited or unallowable activities.
L. Such other activities as the Corporation may prohibit:
• Raising funds for his/her living allowances or for an organization's
general (as opposed to project) operating expenses or endowment.
• Writing grant applications to the Corporation or to any other Federal
Agency.
• An AmeriCorps member may spend no more than ten percent of his
or her originally agreed upon term of service, as reflected in the
member enrollment in the National Service Trust, performing
fundraising activities.
AmeriCorps members may not engage in the above activities directly or indirectly
by recruiting training, or managing others for the primary purpose of engaging in
one of the activities listed above. Individuals may exercise their rights as private
citizens and may participate in the activities listed above on their initiative, on non-
AmeriCorps time, and using non -Corporation funds. Individuals should not wear
the AmeriCorps logo while doing so.
AmeriCorps members may raise resources directly in support of your program's
service activities. Examples of fundraising activities AmeriCorps members may
perform include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Seeking donations of books from companies and individuals for a program
in which volunteers teach children to read;
• Writing a grant proposal to a foundation to secure resources to support the
training of volunteers;
• Securing supplies and equipment from the community to enable volunteers
to help build houses for low-income individuals;
• Securing financial resources from the community to assist in launching or
expanding a program that provides social services to the members of the
4
community and is delivered, in whole or in part, through the members of a
community-based organization;
• Seeking donations from alumni of the program for specific service projects
being performed by current members.
1.6 Non -duplication (program responsibility): 45 CFR §§ 2540.100. Corporation
assistance may not be used to duplicate an activity that is already available in the locality
of a program. And, unless the requirements of paragraph (f) of this section are met,
Corporation assistance will not be provided to a private nonprofit entity to conduct
activities that are the same or substantially equivalent to activities provided by a State or
local government agency in which such entity resides.
Non-displacement (program responsibility): 45 CFR §§ 2540.100.
A. An employer may not displace an employee or position, including partial
displacement such as reduction in hours, wages, or employment benefits, as a
result of the use by such employer of a participating in a program receiving
Corporation assistance.
B. An organization may not displace a volunteer by using a participant in a
program receiving Corporation assistance.
C. A service opportunity will not be created under this chapter that will infringe
in any manner on the promotional opportunity of an employed individual.
D. A participant in a program receiving Corporation assistance may not
perform any services or duties or engage in activities that would otherwise be
performed by an employee as part of the assigned duties of such employee.
E. A participant in any program receiving assistance under this chapter may
not perform any services or duties, or engage in activities, that:
• Will supplant the hiring of employed workers; or
• Are services, duties, or activities with respect to which an individual
has recall rights pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or
applicable personnel procedures.
F. A participant in any program receiving assistant under this chapter may not
perform any services or duties that have been performed by or were assigned to
any:
• Presently employed worker;
• Employee who recently resigned or was discharged;
• Employee who is subject to a reduction in force or who has recall
rights pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or applicable
personnel procedures;
• Employee who is on leave (terminal, temporary, vacation,
emergency, or sick); or
5
• Employee who is on strike or who is being locked out.
1.7 The grantee must ensure that it does not exceed the limitation on member service
hours spent in education and trainings set forth in 45 CFR §2520.50
SECTION 2. INSURANCE. AND INDEMNIFICATION.
2.1 City must maintain its membership in the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool and
add School District as an Additional Member. If City discontinues its membership in ICAP,
City will provide proof of a similar policy of commercial general liability form coverage not
less than $2,000,000 naming School District as an additional insured on a primary and
non-contributory basis.
2.2 School District must provide proof of a policy of commercial general liability form
coverage not less than $2,000,000 naming City as an additional insured on a primary and
non-contributory basis.
2.3 City will indemnify and hold School District, its staff, and students harmless from
and against any and all claims, liability, and causes of action arising from or related to the
City's negligence in the performance of this Agreement and the negligence of City's
officers, agents, or employees.
2.4 School District will indemnify and hold City harmless from and against any and all
claims, liability, and causes of action arising from or related to the School District's
negligence in the performance of this Agreement and the negligence of School District's
officers, agents, or employees.
SECTION 3. COMPENSATION.
School District shall compensate City for the services of the AmeriCorps Members not to
exceed Forty -Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($45,000.00) payable as follows:
A. City shall invoice School District for the volunteer services by November 15.
B. School District shall pay City for such services by December 15.
SECTION 4. TERM.
The term of this Agreement shall be for August 1, 2017 through August 1, 2020. However,
either party may terminate this Agreement with or without cause upon thirty (30) days
written notice to the other party.
6
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
By:
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
Send contract to:
Marie Ware
2200 Bunker Hill Rd.
Dubuque, IA 52001
563-589-4264
Contract copy to:
Tammy Duehr
Shirley Horstman
Kevin Kelleher
Mary Bridget Corken-Deutsch
Marie Ware
Jean Nachtman
School District coding: $45,000.00
DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
By: 06/01!g --
Michael J. Dongnue
President, BoaVd of Education
August 14, 2017